Turnbuckle wrench



J. F. SPIELMAN LI'URNBUCKLE WRENCH Aug. 8, 1950 Filed Feb. 9, 1948 |NVENTOR,I

Patented Aug. 8, 1950 Y,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,518,083 1 TURNBUCKEE'WRENCH I James F. .Spielman, Torrington, Conn. Application February 9, 1948, Serial No. 7,121

2 Claims.

The invention relates primarily to improvements in devices intended to facilitate the adjustment of aircraft turnbuckles. Aircraft turnbuckles in common use afford only a hole in the turnbuckle barrel as means for engaging a tool with which to turn the barrel. Many metallic cables are used in airplanes; consequently many turnbu'ckles installed in these cables are located in nearly inaccessible places. No effective tool has heretofore been provided to facilitate aircraft turnbuckle adjustment.

One object of the invention is to provide an eflicient, light-weight, compact tool for aircraft turnbuckle adjustment.

Another object is to provide a tool which will serve a wide range of turnbuckle sizes without adjustment of the tool.

Another object is to provide a tool for turnbuckle adjustment which is unlikely to accidentally disengage the turnbuckle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool which can easily be used to effect the adjustment of turnbuckles in inconvenient places.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional front view of the wrench; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the wrench; Figure 3 is a top view of the wrench; Figure 4 is a demonstrative view, showing how the wrench is applied to an aircraft turnbuckle; Figures 5, 6 and 7 are operational views, illustrating the efi'eotiveness of the wrench in the event of an obstruction.

A radially toothed ring-segment H is rotatably encased in a ring-segment housing 10. An engaging pin :2, integral with the ring-segment H, is diametrically disposed across the radial center of the ring-segment II to a point midway between the circumferential limits of the ringsegment H (Figs. 1 and A handle I! is screwed over a threaded extention l9, projecting from the base of the ring-segment housing H]. A pawl l3, rotatably mounted through the threaded extension I9, is integral and concentric both with a radial flange I4 and a reversing shaft is which extends longitudinally through the handle I1. A compression spring [5 is arranged around the reversing shaft I 6 to urge the pawl l3 into engagement with the teeth of the ring-segment II. The reversing shaft I6 is freely mounted through the handle I! and integral with a reversing lever l8. Reversing lever I8 is seated in a conforming slot 22 in the lower end of the handle I! by the pressure of the compression spring l5 upon the radial flange H! on the re versing shaft I6.

LIE: 1

By'observation of Figure 4, it can be seen that ajhol'e 25in the turnbuckle barrel 20 is the means provided for engaging the tool. It is known that, to adjust the tension of a cable unit by a turnbuckle as depicted in Figure 4; the

barrel 20 must be rotated about two' oppositely screwing screw members whose shafts project from the ends of the barrel, these shafts each being arranged to contain an individual cable extremity, 24. The portion 2! leads to one of the cables.)

It is apparent that the engaging pin 12 can easily be inserted into thehole '25 in the turnbuckle barrel 20 (Figs. 4 and 5), so that the turnbuckle barrel 2t assumes a position substantially perpendicular to and concentric with the face of the wrench (cross-section, Fig. 5). Figs. 5, 6 and 7 display the operation of the wrench in the event of an obstruction 23. When the handle ll is moved to rotate the ring-segment housing I0 about the ring-segment II in a counter-clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 5), the pawl l3 engages a tooth of the ring-segment ll. Thus the ring-segment and, consequently, the turnbuckle barrel 20 are rotated in conjunction with the ring-segment housing It. Upon clockwise rotation of the ring-segment housing I0, by the handle I! (Fig. l), the tapered surface at the end of the pawl 13 contacts and slides successively over the teeth of the ring-segment I I.

To effect a reverse engagement of the pawl [3 with the teeth of the ring-segment H, the reversing lever [B is pulled with the fingers against the tension of the spring l5 and rotated to the extent of It becomes evident on inspection of the drawings that a reciprocal movement of the handle I! will continue to rotate the turnbuckle barrel 26 in -a chosen direction. Also apparent is the fact that the projecting extremity of the engaging pin !2 will in turn serve as a tooth for engaging the pawl 13 during use (Fig. 7).

From the foregoing description of the invention it is evident that a turnbuckle wrench has been provided which is light in weight, compact, easy to manufacture, and can be used in cramped locations; and that the wrench offers a maximum of working efiiciency by encircling the turnbuckle, while permitting uninterrupted operational progressions.

It is understood that the use of the invention is not limited to the adjustment of turnbuckles.

Numerous changes can be made in the shape and size of the wrench without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

(Only one of these shafts is shown at I claim:

1. In a wrench, the combination of: a ring segment of substantially over 180, a plurality of uniform radial projections from the entire circumference of said ring segment, a pin extending from and diametrically disposed across said ring segment and medial to the circumferential limits of said ring segment, said pin being limited in length to the major path of travel of said radial projections, said ring segment being r0.- tatably carried in a body which conforms with the circumferential limits of said ring segment whereby said radial projections have a common fixed path of travel, a shaftlike handle fixed to said body, a shaft extending longitudinally through said handle and having an inward pawl extremity, a lever on said shaft at the outward end of said handle, a compression spring in said handle adapted to urge said pawl on said shalt to intersect the path of travel of said radial prosome and t9 ur a d l l: an e si e, at he we f iam nan-t le; where s d a s i w d a ia Tm-gecuqn on direca n of heir ath' f trave and engag dr di ofict ns in he epn si e d refi n of he r path of travel, whereby the rotation'of said lever to he ext nt, f 1 0 rev rses direction of engageme it of S d a wi h. s id. al p ee iqns whe e y aid P i iQ is we to n a said a l and, w reb um. n a emen of aid in eese a amage bole a mvq u le, a mem er a am a mo i n i said ndle. wi bate said e d mem er i pregress e. steps.

- path of travel, and pawl means in said body for engaging said radial projections including said pin" with said body in a chosen direction of rotation, whereby upon engagement of said pin through a diametric hole in a revoluble load membera"'manual reciprocal rotative movement of said body will rotate said load member in progressive steps.

JAMES E.

R FEEEN W CI D The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED. S'I''l'l ram Nl mhl? Data.

7. m s-m" May 0.. .805 1,397 82 a t NQv.22l1-991 1,475,834 Kadow Nov. 27. 1,923 

